Large local temperature variation decelerates the decline of northern forest bird species as the climate warms
Northern forest bird species have declined due to the warming climate. According to a recent study, the local climates of protected areas can act as buffer against the decline in northern forest bird species as the climate warms.
The study compared the densities of 17 northern forest bird species in 129 protected areas in 1981–1999 and 2000–2017. The protected areas were located in central Finland and in the southern parts of Northern Finland. Based on the study, the densities of the forest bird species were the highest in protected areas that had local climates with more variability. In these areas, the species also declined less than they did in the topographically more homogeneous protected areas.
”Conserving topographically homogeneous forests is especially significant when mitigating the negative effects of climate warming on the species of northern forests,” states leading researcher Raimo Virkkala from the Finnish Environment Institute SYKE.
Between the study periods (1981–1999 and 2000–2017), the total density of forest birds declined approximately 38 %. The most abundant species among the species studied were brambling Fringilla montifringilla (pictured), common redpoll Carduelis flammea and rustic bunting Emberiza rustica © Photo: Jorma Tenovuo
IBC-Carbon took part in the study in co-operation with researchers from the Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, Metsähallitus National Parks Finland and the University of Helsinki.
More on the topic
- Research publication: Virkkala, R., Aalto, J., Heikkinen, R.K., Rajasärkkä, A., Kuusela, S., Leikola, N. & Luoto, M.: Can Topographic Variation in Climate Buffer against Climate Change-Induced Population Declines in Northern Forest Birds? Diversity 2020, 12(2), 56.
For further information, please contact
- Leading Researcher Raimo Virkkala, Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, tel. +358 295 251 747, firstname.lastname@syke.fi